Paintings and Screens
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Brass
Mid-20th Century Asian Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Cedar
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
Mid-17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
1970s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Hardwood
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-20th Century French Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Fruitwood
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 20th Century Asian Modern Paintings and Screens
Wood
1970s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Hardwood, Paint
Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Anglo-Japanese Paintings and Screens
Wood, Giltwood
1890s Antique Paintings and Screens
Other
1940s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Soapstone
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
1930s Japanese Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold, Bronze
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Indian Paintings and Screens
Glass, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Indian Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Wood, Paint, Paper
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Early 17th Century Chinese Ming Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
18th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Glass, Paint
Mid-20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Korean Other Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 18th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold, Gold Leaf
17th Century Indian Archaistic Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-20th Century Mexican Modern Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Linen, Silk, Plexiglass, Wood, Lacquer, Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Mirror, Wood
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood
1920s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Bone, Hardwood
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Paintings and Screens
Wood
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
Antique Asian Paintings and Screens
Traditional Asian paintings were often created on scrolls and folding screens. Artisans made screens that could be folded up or spread out by connecting several panels using hinges. Today, antique Asian folding screens and paintings are sophisticated decorative accents that can serve as makeshift partitions to ensure privacy.
The original folding screens were created by Chinese artists. The earliest record of screens comes from the 2nd century B.C., and surviving examples date back to the Ming dynasty. Chinese painting utilizes many of the same tools as calligraphy — these screens were crafted from wood with painted panels featuring striking art or calligraphy that told cultural stories or represented nature and life in the area.
The practice was introduced to Japan, where paintings for screens were made on paper and silk, in the 8th century. These paintings frequently feature subjects such as landscapes, animals, flowers and Buddhist religious themes. Along with screens for tea ceremonies and dance backgrounds, there were screens for use in Shinto and Buddhist temples.
In the 17th century, screens began to be imported to Europe where their popularity grew. Coco Chanel famously collected Coromandel folding screens.
Traditional Asian paintings can make a tasteful addition to any wall, and screens can be used as decoration or, in the case of larger iterations, as an aesthetic way to divide a large room. Browse the selection of antique Asian paintings and screens from a variety of styles and eras on 1stDibs.